Remember when...

I talked about taking the kids camping and making memories...

 

We FINALLY got to go...

 

kind of...

 

I had to work until 2 yesterday. We picked up the kids and spent the afternoon and evening at Westwood. Tom and I both have to work today, but the kids got to stay. They were stoked!

 

 

As you can tell... it was packed! Just kidding... the regular campground was packed, but we had the only 2 trailers with horses.

 

 

Haley loves her papaw and riding horses.

She was also the only grandkid that wanted to go fishing with him. No luck there... boo!

 

 

Ashley and I set off on a couple of trails and had some great sister time! I'm so ready to get away with her for a week! 139 DAYS AND 12 HOURS... BUT WHO'S COUNTING!?!?

 

 

Everyone LOVES cuddling with Coy William!

He was so relax and ALMOST fell asleep... until he heard his mommy!

 

Drew wanted to hold him... and feed him... for like a minute! He couldn't believe how heavy Coy was getting! Drew is such a good big cousin!

 

Sometimes... mommy needs to kiss our boo-boos! Ty Michael had a mini meltdown and yelled at the dog. It was pretty funny but you don't dare laugh... because that will make him more mad. Guess what happened next... NAP TIME!

 

 

It looks like Tom cooked dinner... but really dad did! Tom just stirred it while Dad and Haley were riding the horses. It was an amazing dinner! Ranch Beans... best thing I've had in awhile!!

 

We had a fantastic night! It was so peaceful... I can't wait to hear how the kids did all night and today while we were at work!

 

FAMILY FIRST!

 

 

 

I LOVE...

meaningful quotes...

 

And... I love looking at all the meaningful quote images on Google.

 

 

I have the BEST family & friends!

 

 

ATTITUDE

Can... and Will make all the difference!

 

 

I work in a place were people's attitude can affect (effect...I never know which one!?!) mine.

There are days were I feel like drinking at 6:15 am...

all because of how someone may have talked to me.

I've been {dealing} with a certain individual, whom I don't see but 5-6 times a month... and only when he is late. His attitude and behavior are something else. He causes me to lose my cool! Yesterday... He called into control and asked [or begged] to speak to me and I kept telling that officer to tell him "NO." I didn't have anything to say to him and I didn't really care what he had to say... HOWEVER... this morning I let him say what he wanted:

 He apologized.

 He told me that he regretted the names he called me and his behavior.  

He told me it wouldn't happen again.

He told me his mom would kick his ass if she knew how he spoke to me.

 

I did thank him and tell him I appreciated it... HOWEVER... this is the 2nd (WRITE UP) or go around with him. I have heard all this before. So, I'll change my attitude towards him... take what he said with a grain of salt... and move on!

 

 

Next up... a girl is the unit who has the worst attitude ever!! The past few days... she has a chip on her shoulder and it needs knocked off. I should haven't have to tell you to lose the attitude as soon as I walk in the unit! That is ridiculous... you are a grown woman... with a child! I hope she never acts like you! You need to learn some manners as well! GEEZ...

 

And... it's my long week!!

 

Just kidding!! haha... but it goes with the job!

TIME TOGETHER...

seems to be a rare thing... AND a very important thing.

 

That is one lesson I learned from being married before: you have to make one on one time with your spouse in order for your family to be united. I LOVE my "alone" time with Tom.



Even though it was my weekend with the kids, I let Justin take them to Great Wolf Lodge. Tom and I headed to Edinburg to the outlet mall so I could do some birthday shopping... and get some Christmas gifts... YIKES!!

Doesn't he looked thrilled?! We had the best day together!!

 

We went to an antique mall looking for anything cool and/or fire related... lots of neat stuff but super expensive!

 

After that we received a dreaded phone call... more on another post about that...
we had dinner before heading to the camper.

That's right... we met up with Nathan and Stacy at their camper and had a blast! I haven't laughed that hard... (or drank a wee too much) in a LOOOOONG time!

The next morning after getting up and ready... Tom and I head to downtown Nashville to meet up with his Aunt Lisa and Uncle Chuck. We have a great time with them every chance we get to hang out. After eating lunch and walking around little, cute shops with them... we headed to St. Vincent!
We took Kenz with us to see her mom... and Cody!

Here is the dreaded phone call from my dad:
"Jess, Heidi {my sis in law} has been in a terrible accident. Cody and I are on the way to the hospital and she isn't in good shape." [insert me starting to panic] I had 1000 questions and Cody was a mess. No one knew the answer to my questions... really... and they wouldn't for awhile. They also needed me to let my siblings know... and my mom... and Heidi's BFF, Brit! That was the worst... Thankful for Brit, she headed straight to St. Vincent to be with Cody and try to calm Heidi! The first x-rays didn't show any breaks... however she couldn't walk... so more x-rays, scans, and a 2 day stay... she started her road to recovery! 6-8 weeks may seem like a long time to keep weight off her leg and hip... but it could have been so much worse!
 

 

Let them...

be little!

 

Sometimes kids are put in a place where they shouldn't be.

They shouldn't have to worry.

They shouldn't have to be scared.

They shouldn't have to cry.

 

BUT...

 

Life happens!

The world can be an ugly place

and kids are exposed to things they shouldn't have to be.

 

I have prayed a lot the last few days for my kids!

I hope they always know they can turn to prayer!

I hope they always know that the Lord is there to listen.

 

 

This poem has always meant A LOT to me!

I hope one day the kids can read it and really remember that HE will carry them!

 

I also need to me... that the right words come out of my mouth to comfort them! I hope they ALWAYS know that I LOVE them more than anything! 

STARBUCKS...

tasted amazing this morning!

 

I know there are a lot of rumors {true or not... idk} going around about Starbucks and what they support or don't support, but I don't really care.

 

When I worked at the CAC, I interviewed a few people that worked at Starbuck about their customer service! It is amazing... all of their employees seem to LOVE their job! I enjoy going to the one at 37 & 32... only because of their smiling faces and positive attitudes. We all know if it a pain in the ass to get into and out of... especially in Tom's truck this morning... so location and convenience isn't the reason!

 

I also LOVE that they give you a free Birthday Drink!! Woo Hoo!! I don't go to Starbucks a lot, but who could pass up FREE?!?!

 

 

HAPPY TUESDAY EVERYONE!

 

I'm working until noon [on my day off], then I may tan... get the kids, work steers, homework, dance, and dinner with momma at Mo's!

EUCHRE...

is either a game you know... or you don't know!

 

 I learned to play euchre when I was young. I loved going to card parties with my parents and learning. I would sit on my Uncle Gary's lap and he would tell me what cards to throw out. Eventually, I learned why I was picking what cards.

 Fast forward a few years from that and Euchre became a card game we'd play at cattle shows with a cooler as our table. We'd play at all hours of the day and late into the evening after the calves were at tie outs. Euchre is NOT a game anyone has heard of west of the Mississippi River. When I moved to Oklahoma for college with a few others from Indiana... everyone thought we were crazy. No one had heard of it... and they didn't really care to learn either. BOO! To this day... most of my NEO crew would say, "HUH?!?!"

So last night after the Lion Club Fish Fry in town... Dad and Cherie invited us over to play cards. See that hand above... I wasn't playing poker! Tom and I ended up winning 2 of 3 games and enjoyed our time with them!



PHOTOGRAPHY...

has always been my creative outlet...

and I love capturing memories for people...

 

BUT...

 

I'm not doing as many anymore!

 

My family always comes first... PERIOD!!

 

The kids are getting older and way more active...

I already feel like I miss out on so much of their lives... because of shift life, so I won't miss out on anything else to take photos. They have always been so good about going with me and never complaining... and I love them for that. It's all just becoming too much...

 

I sat down with my calendar and circled all the days that I work...

then I wrote a "B" on all the days that Tom works...

then I figured out the kids practices, school stuff, and schedule with Justin...

 

REALLY CRAZY!!

 

So... it's time to get creative on ways to save money and pay for vacations...

hmmm...

 

**see previous post about satellite and internet**

My days off...

were busy and not so busy... at the same time...

 

Tuesdays are always a little hectic...

 

I get off work 2 hours early so that I can pick the kids up at the sitter by 4:45...

normally we'd head home or to the barn (wait until you meet Mario & Cooper [others aren't named or haven't arrived]), but... not any more! Now Haley has dance from 5:30 to 7... so she changes in the car and we head to Wishes! This past Tuesday though... Drew needed to go to the eye dr. to have his new glasses fitted, so thankfully Tom met us there and could help out!{pray Drew doesn't have travel bball practice on Tuesdays!}

 

Wednesday...

I actually {had} no plans... until I opened my DirecTV bill and decided it was time for a change! Dish Network came out Wednesday morning... and was there for 3 hours... BEFORE the tech told me he couldn't hit the satelites. [too many trees] The dish would have to go in the middle of our driveway or in the middle of the back yard and even then... we wouldn't be able to get HD channels. WTF... wouldn't you check this BEFORE you started doing other stuff?!

 

I told the tech never mind and asked him to hook the DirecTV back up... it didn't work. He PROMISED me he didn't touch the satelite or unhook anything. He was NO help and kinda an ass about why [all of a sudden] the TV doesn't work at all. He ended up being at the house for 4.5 hours... and the last hour he was on hold with his supervisor... whom I had to talk to about canceling our service...which never really began!

 So frustrating... and yes, I was upset and took it out on Tom... or so he says... and I apologized!

 

I actually had time to run and get my nails done!! Yeah for a fun, strange purple color!

 

After getting the kids from school... we ran to the grocery... then home to bake blueberry muffins and funfetti cupcakes with electric blue icing. It was a rainy, crappy day... so we just watch movies and chilled... after doing a boat load of homework!

 

Thursday...

DirecTV came over... to fix the satelite and upgrade all of the equipment. Guess what... the dang tech from Dish did disconnect something in the attic and just didn't want to climb back up there to hook it back up! (irritated at him, thankful for other guy) It's amazing what they will give loyal customers who ask to cancel their service! That tech was there for 3.5 hours and after he finished... Swayzee showed up to switch our internet service! I'm all about having cheaper bills!!

 

A round of golf, dinner at the Eagles, and a fire run ended "my weekend!"

 

FYI: I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT FALL... BECAUSE THAT MEANS WINTER IS CLOSER... AND THIS GIRL LOVES WARM WEATHER!

I GUESS...

I can finally say that I turned down a job opportunity yesterday.

 

I have been interviewing and testing over the last month and received a job offer on Friday. I had the weekend to think about it and on Monday morning, I declined.

 

I chatted with my BFF, mom, sister, and current supervisor about my options. I turned to Tom a lot with the pros and cons. I weighed all my options. I turned to my gut. I prayed.

 

I still have doubts...

 I still have hopes...

I still have fears...

I still have faith...

 

 

Did I make the right decision? I hope so...

 

I love my job! I enjoy most of my co-workers!

I am towards the top (of females) in seniority and have the best hours. I make pretty good money for what I do. I have so much flexiblity when it comes to leaving early and vacations.

 

All of those were unknowns and with being a firefighters wife and momma to 2 amazing kids... I couldn't chance not seeing them with another crazy schedule.

 

This is what I found when I turned to scripture:

 

Proverbs 3:5-6         

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

 

Did I make the right decision? Yes, FAMILY FIRST!

IT WAS ABOUT TIME...

we got this crew together for a picture... or two!

1947 International belonging to David and Cody Musselman

 This group of cousins is so blessed to have each other! I hope they continue to be the best of friends!

 

I pray Drew will always be an excellent role model for Ty Michael because that boy thinks Drew {hung the moon}! I pray Haley and Kenzie experience the ups and downs of life together and turn to each other when they can't (won't) come to Heidi and me! I pray Coy gives them all grief and wants to be with them all the time... and that they have the patience, kindness to let him join in whatever they may be up to!

September 7, 2014

Coy wasn't even born the last time we attempted to get a group picture!

We had a gorgeous evening we had! The colors {turqouise and red} turned out fantastic with all the greenery! AND... for the most part... everyone was in a great mood!

 

Haley- 10

Kenzie- 9

Drew- 8

Ty Michael- 4

Coy- 9 months

 Yesterday, was Grandparents Day!! These 5 kids LOVE their Mammaw Rhonda and GG so much! I hope they know how blessed they are to have all of their grandmas still! Life is short and even though they (Haley and Drew) met all of their great grandpas... only 1 (Justin's grandpa, Norm) remains living! {We miss them all terribly!} I hope they understand how grateful I am to have these women in my life and what they mean to me. I pray they make memories that will forever be in their little minds! 

 Haley- you are growing up too fast! You are beautiful inside and out! I can't wait to see what life holds for you and see the path that you choose to take!

 

Drew- You are so handsome and I love the kind heart you have towards little kids... especially Ty! You will do great things as you get older and I'm so proud of you!

With all that being said... you guys drive me crazy sometimes and make me want to pull out my hair! You make me miss Tom even more when things are going wrong at the house and WE (all 3 of us) need him to make peace!! I love you both more than life itself! You put a smile on my face EVERY SINGLE DAY! I pray for you guys daily! I hope you stay close and count on each other... No matter what gets in your way... PRAY... and we will make it through anything! Always remember:

 

FAMILY FIRST and FUN MEMORIES!

 

COLOR ME RAD...

WAS A BLAST!

 

On Saturday, we got up {early} and heading to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for this 5K! The kids were excited to get hit with color bombs and this momma was just praying they could make it!

{I kept telling myself, "if they can hike, they can make it!}

 

The weather was a little crappy because it drizzled the whole 3.2 miles... and during warm-ups... and the entire drive home, but it was cool and overcast so we didn't sweat to death!

 Drew Wayne had so much color stuck to him... I had to wipe his glasses off ALOT! FYI: blue stains... we scrubbed and scrubbed!

 

 Words can't express how proud I was [am] of these 2 kids! They finished their first 5K!!

 

 

My BFF and Nathan got me to sign up! I have completed numerous 5Ks, but never a color run... so I was excited to finish this one with them! I am so proud of their journey and accomplishments! 

OMG... this wasn't even the worst we looked... After we took this picture... we had the final color bomb where everyone threw color into the air. What a FUN morning!

 They are keepin' on...

 

My pictures are out of order... boo... but this was before we started... clean and white!

Until our next one... FAMILY FIRST and FUN MEMORIES!

GOLFING

may become my new thing...

 

Golfing is a sport my grandparents played together...

I will never forget about how my grandma would talk about grandpa quitting

{and swearing he'd never play again} with her.

It was something she was very passionate about and played until the day she could no longer withstand the pain in her shoulder and hips.

 

Golfing is a sport that Drew loves...

I will cherish the first time we had {mommy & son} date night to the golf course.

He said, "you aren't as bad as I thought mom!"

My cool meter just went up a few points!

 

Golfing {or the driving range} was OUR first date...

I was awful and I was sure he'd never play with me again!

The driving range has become family night as well...

my momma even came and watched us all!

Haley doesn't last too long, but she does good!

 

Golfing is something my brothers do frequently...

 

Golfing is a business sport where you can really get to know someone...

[I have a person in mind!]

 

Anyway... the guys from work golf a lot... and I kept telling them I wanted to play sometime.

{remember how bad I was at the driving range...}

The day finally came that they asked me to join them... and they informed me I couldn't be as bad [blank] and [blank]. Woo Hoo!!

We went to Balmoral in Castleton... I actually did pretty good... they were impressed.

 I shot a 98 on 18... It was under 100 and that was my goal!

Guess what... they asked me to play again... and this time we needed a 4th, so I took Tom.

 

Tom's worst game ever... and I was doing pretty good.

{as in pretty good... I could find my ball and only lost 1 all day!}

Tom lost 4 on 1 hole!! Not that I was counting, but I think he lost like 9 all day!!

 

The only picture I snuck because it was that bad!

I should say that he came back on the last 2 holes and beat me!

 

I believe Tom even said he'd play with me again!!

Here's to making memories with co-workers...

and more...

FAMILY TIME with the KIDS and DATES with TOM!

 

 

Labor Day 2014....

was an awesome family day!!

 

What I didn't get a picture of was Caribbean Cove. Tom and I took the kids there first to enjoy the indoor water park. We won't be going back... Ever! It was kind of dirty I thought... but the kids had fun... for about 2 hours!

 

We went to our favorite "fast food" place for lunch... FIREHOUSE SUBS... before heading to Brown County to do some hiking. Upon arriving... We went to the nature center first! The kids thought it was neat to look at skulls, snake (YIKES!), bees, etc...

 

Drew at a lookout behind the Nature Center

Haley loved this view

Hiking to Strahl Lake

 Tom warned us the the walk to the lake would be easier than the way back...

Tom thought these trees were cool and wanted a picture.

Drew thought this was neat.

They stayed on top of the hill...

 I LOVE the picture above. They have a pretty special bond! I wish I could have zoomed in closer, but I was just using camera on my phone... and I was at the bottom of a hill.

While Drew and I went to the bottom... "creek stomping!"

 AHHH... I was flooded with memories! The creek was dry but Drew thought the rocks were cool and the deeper parts still had water. I loved going down there with him.

Their faces were pricesless after the hike!

 We were all Hot, Sweaty Messes by the end! Haley's legs were so achy, but she did great! Drew... that kid has a lot of energy!

One of my favorite spots in Brown County

 I LOVE this picture as well!! My FAVORITE!!

 

After leaving the park, we stopped at 3 different Antique Stores to check things out. The kids got ice cream, I got Haley a Christmas gift, and Tom didn't find any fire stuff. Well... we did, but it wasn't great quality or I'd have to mortgage the house to afford it! 

Dinner at BWs on the way home!

 On the way home... we ate dinner at BWs!

One picture of me... so you know I was there! And... of course Drew closed his eyes!

 

What a fantastic day we had! I love all the memories, laughs, and love that we share!!